Latest news with #Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, Afghanistan push ahead with UAP rail project
ISLAMABAD: In a bold bid to reshape the geopolitics of Central and South Asia, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi dialled in a high-stakes phone call on Sunday to push forward the game-changing Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line project. The proposed 573-kilometer rail link, stretching from Tashkent through Kabul to Peshawar and connecting to Gwadar and Karachi ports, carries a projected cost of $4.8 billion. It is poised to serve as a vital artery linking Central Asia's landlocked economies to international markets, potentially turbo charging economic ties and fostering deeper regional connectivity. According to a statement from Foreign Office, the two ministers agreed on the urgency of finalizing the framework agreement swiftly for the UAP Railway project, reflecting a shared commitment to cementing this infrastructure vision. The dialogue follows Dar's recent conversation with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich to coordinate final details for the project's forthcoming signing ceremony. Pakistan, Russia, CARs: meeting on UAP rail plan likely on April 23-24 Beyond infrastructure, the phone call underscored a parallel diplomatic thaw. Afghanistan's Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed Pakistan's recent move to elevate its diplomatic mission in Kabul from chargé d'affaires to ambassador level – a gesture Kabul has pledged to reciprocate by upgrading its envoy in Islamabad. Both countries have been maintaining embassies headed by chargés d'affaires, a reflection of strained ties over decades marked by mistrust and conflict. 'This is a very positive development,' Muttaqi said, framing the diplomatic upgrade as a milestone in the 'brotherly countries'' evolving relationship. The mutual embassies' upgrade follows similar steps by China, the first nation to accept an ambassador from the Taliban-led government, and the UAE, signalling a cautious but tangible international shift towards engagement with Afghanistan's new regime. Both the ministers also reviewed progress on a slate of agreements from Dar's April visit to Kabul, reaffirming their commitment to fostering mutual trust and cooperation in a region historically fraught with geopolitical volatility. As Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan move forward with this massive rail project and diplomatic rapprochement, the moves may herald a new chapter of connectivity and stability in a part of the world long challenged by division and uncertainty. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Islamabad, Kabul bonhomie surges
Pakistan and Afghanistan stepped up their contacts as a new push to reset their long troubled ties is making significant strides, officials said here as the foreign ministers from the two countries spoke on Sunday by phone. The latest telephonic conversation between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi came days after Pakistan agreed to upgrade diplomatic ties with Kabul. The Interim Afghan government welcomed Pakistan's move to appoint a full time Ambassador in Kabul, becoming the fourth country to do so. China took the lead last year when it sent a full time ambassador to Kabul and accepted a Taliban Envoy in Beijing. China has been instrumental in persuading Pakistan and Afghanistan to exchange ambassadors. The breakthrough came after the interim Taliban government took a series of steps to address Pakistan's concerns over the cross border terrorist attacks. Pakistani officials confirmed to The Express Tribune that Kabul for the first time moved against elements particularly the Afghan nationals who either joined the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or were thinking to be part of the group. Scores of such Afghans were arrested as well as those who were facilitating young people to join the ranks of TTP. Those steps encouraged Pakistan to increase interaction with the Afghan Taliban government. The decision was also significant since India was trying to exploit the strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan to its advantage. A statement issued here by the Foreign Office said Foreign Minister Muttaqi welcomed the decision of Pakistan to up-grade its diplomatic relations to the ambassador level and informed that Afghanistan decided to reciprocate the same. He termed it a very positive development in bilateral relations. Both leaders also reviewed implementation of decisions taken during DPM/FM's visit to Kabul on 19 April 2025 and vowed to continue working together to establish mutual trust between the two brotherly nations. Emphasizing the importance of Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project for regional connectivity, both leaders agreed to work closely for an early finalisation of the framework agreement, according to the statement. The Afghan foreign minister is expected to visit Islamabad soon. This will be Muttaqi's first visit to Pakistan in two years. Pakistan and Afghanistan ties have remained strained since Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to advance key railway project
'Emphasising the importance of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project for regional connectivity, both leaders agreed to work closely for an early finalisation of the framework agreement,' it said. The agreement to advance the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project came during a telephonic conversation between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Islamabad, Jun 1 (PTI) Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday agreed to advance a vital railway line project, considered a key step for regional connectivity. The development came after Pakistan on May 30 announced to upgrade its diplomatic ties with Kabul to ambassador level, followed by a similar move by Afghanistan. According to the foreign office, Muttaqi during telephonic conversation welcomed the decision of Pakistan to upgrade its diplomatic relations to the ambassador level and informed that Afghanistan decided to reciprocate the same. 'He termed it a very positive development in bilateral relations,' according to the statement. Both leaders also reviewed implementation of decisions taken during DPM/FM's visit to Kabul on April 19 and vowed to continue working together to establish mutual trust between the two brotherly nations. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan had come under stress after Islamabad accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists. Observers opine that the ties are apparently improving due to efforts of China, which is using a trilateral mechanism involving the foreign ministers of the three countries to sort out differences. The railway project to link Pakistan with Central Asia through Afghanistan is an important project to improve interconnectivity in the region. Dar's interaction with Muttaqi comes a day after he held a telephone conversation with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich on Saturday. 'They discussed the modalities for early finalisation of the framework agreement for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project, including details of its signing ceremony in consultation with leadership of Afghanistan,' the foreign office said. PTI SH PTI SH SCY SCY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to advance Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan rail project, boost regional ties
Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday agreed to advance a vital railway line project, considered a key step for regional connectivity. read more Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to move forward with the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway line project, a key step toward enhancing regional connectivity, the Pakistani Foreign Office said Sunday. The agreement was reached during a phone call between Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Both leaders emphasized the importance of the project and committed to working closely to finalize the framework agreement soon. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The development follows Pakistan's May 30 announcement to upgrade diplomatic relations with Kabul to the ambassador level, a move Afghanistan has agreed to reciprocate, according to the Foreign Office. The UAP rail project aims to improve trade and transport links across Central and South Asia, fostering economic cooperation and stability in the region. Both leaders also reviewed implementation of decisions taken during DPM/FM's visit to Kabul on April 19 and vowed to continue working together to establish mutual trust between the two brotherly nations. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan had come under stress after Islamabad accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists. Observers opine that the ties are apparently improving due to efforts of China, which is using a trilateral mechanism involving the foreign ministers of the three countries to sort out differences. The railway project to link Pakistan with Central Asia through Afghanistan is an important project to improve interconnectivity in the region. Dar's interaction with Muttaqi comes a day after he held a telephone conversation with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich on Saturday. 'They discussed the modalities for early finalisation of the framework agreement for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project, including details of its signing ceremony in consultation with leadership of Afghanistan,' the foreign office said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to advance key railway project
The agreement to advance the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project came during a telephonic conversation between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
